Darkthrone- Transilvanian Hunger (1994)

Having been roomates with Gene Cesspool, for quite some time, I was introduced to, and became a metal fan over the years.  With there being many different genres within Metal as a whole, I was drawn to the dark evil side of Black Metal, relatively quickly.  Out of all the different Black Metal bands I have heard, Darkthrone quickly became my favorite.  Having started with a Death Metal sound, Darkthrone transitioned into a premier Black Metal sound, hailing from Norway.  Having been around since the beginnings of the Black Metal scene, and still releasing music, Darkthrone has established themselves as iconic figures.

Transilvanian Hunger is Darkthrone's 4th album. (They have 14 total, with the last release being in 2010!)  Currently, Darkthrone has strayed away from their Black Metal sound, and have progressed into their own style of metal/speed metal-punk sound, but this album is one of their true Black Metal releases.  With 8 track and nearly 40 minutes of true old school Black Metal, you won't get disappointed with this album.  Darkthrone has been one of my favorites because they aren't a melodic black metal band, they are true in your face dark black metal: guitars, drums, vocals; no keyboards or atmospheric sounds or silly singing interludes to try and make you think of evilness.  The other aspect about this album that is great, is that fact that the recording was done on analog equipment, over 17 years ago, so that dirty raw sound is affluent throughout the tracks.  I have a friend that I loaned this album to, and he didn't like it due to that reason, but then again he has a HIM album in his collection.  Either way you look at this, if you are a metal fan, black metal fan, punk fan or extreme music fan, this not only shows the roots and sounds of the genre but holds true to the underlining black metal sound.

If you like black metal, get this; if you like metal, then get this.  No matter how you come across it, find it, or seek it out, this is a great album to listen to and for archival purposes.

Official score- 4/5

Mayhem- Deathcrush (1987)

Mayhem is one of those legendary bands with so much history and lore, that's is scary and freakin' awesome at the same time.  Formed in 1984, they were one of the pioneers in black metal.  Not only did they write and play songs about all things evil/black metal, they lived it. I won't get into the history of the band, nor the trials/tribulations, but trust me, look up their history and then you'll have to hold them in reverence. ( if you look at the murders & suicides and the apparent craziness of the early metal/black metal scene.)

Deathcrush was Mayhem's first studio release, way back in 1987.  With 6 brutally pioneering tracks, this 20 minute release is short, evil, and brutal.  There were only a few other truly Black Metal bands around at that time period, who spread as much evil and chaos that Mayhem did.  An old friend of mine turned me on to Mayhem, when he was telling me about some letter correspondences he had with Death, before he died.  (Serious follow the "history" link and read about them, its crazy.)  When you listen to this album, it shows that its an old recording, but the brutality of the music being played and the amount of style they had, completely shows through.  Fast brutal drumming mixed with heavily distorted metal guitar and the classic black metal vocals provides a perfect representation of the early black metal scene, not to mention where it has ended up now.  Mixed on the album you will hear harsh electro/noisy intros, as well as some other stuff that will surprise you from a black metal released in the late 80's. 

This is one of my all time favorite, early black metal albums; and honestly this goes right along with some of the early Darkthrone releases, which are my favorite.  You can pretty much find this album anywhere- for free online or for less than $10 at online store, and trust me, it's well worth $10.  Get this album!

Official score-4/5

Gorgoroth- Destroyer (or how to philosophize with the hammer) (1998)

Gorgoroth is one of my favorite black metal bands of all time. (2nd to Darkthrone)  If you look online, or are familiar with Gorgoroth, you know they have had some turbulent times in the last few years, but that doesn't detract from their hard lined straight forward demonic black metal they have produced in the past.  

Gorgorth has always provided me with what I truly like in black metal- fast aggressiveness with harsh vocals that are in both English & Norwegian.  Granted the lyrics are based on their satanic ideology, but what else is black metal supposed to be about?  Destroyer is probably my favorite Gorgoroth album, with heavy laden guitar works and fast blast beats that overpower you and make you want to burn down a church.  8 tracks of pure evil with vocals from Gaahl, who seems to be a very interesting yet jacked up fellow, that are some of the best in black metal history.

If you like metal, and not that crappy lame ass new metal with losers that decide to sing their chorus', then this is a must have for all enthusiasts.  Seriously, I am a big fan of all genres of music, and if I had only 3 black metal albums that I could listen to, for the rest of my life, this would be one of them.  Buy it, download it, steal from someone you know, or if you aren't technologically proficient, have someone tape it off for you to play in your walkman.

Official Score- 4/5